Technology

Technology

Technology

The advance of technology presents both opportunities for and challenges to liberty. As new technologies are implemented, their impacts on civil liberties must be given consideration. The ACLU supports uses of technology that enhance privacy and freedom while opposing those that undermine liberty and move us closer to a surveillance society.
Seattle has passed the strongest surveillance transparency and accountability protections in the country!
ACLU of Washington sues Tacoma Police Department for not disclosing stingray surveillance records
How do automated decision systems affect our lives? An ACLU-WA blog series

Resources

The ACLU-WA and Seattle’s Booking Photo Comparison Software

Published: 
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
The ACLU has long been concerned about the use of facial recognition systems and the broad fishing expeditions for which they can be used.  That’s why the ACLU of Washington worked hard to change the Seattle Police Department’s proposed policy for the Booking Photo Comparison Software (BPCS).
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Liberty Link: Ben Wizner Goes on “The Record” about Surveillance

Published: 
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Ben Wizner is director of the ACLU’s national Speech, Privacy and Technology Project, and is a legal advisor to Edward Snowden.  He has visited Snowden in Moscow and communicates with him over encrypted channels.  Wizner was in Seattle recently and spoke to KUOW host David Hyde on “The Record” about privacy in the digital age.
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Bill to Regulate Govt Drone Use to Have Hearing in WA Senate

News Release, Published: 
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
HB 2789, legislation that puts reasonable regulations in place for government use of drones in Washington state, will have a hearing today, February 26, at 6:30 pm before the Senate Law and Justice Committee
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ACLU activists make the case for reasonable drone regulation

Published: 
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
A group of enthusiastic ACLU-WA activists met at the State Capitol on Tuesday to encourage legislators to support  House Bill 1771 and Senate Bill 6172 calling for reasonable, common sense limits to drone use by state and local government agencies.
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Bill to Regulate Drones Passes Washington State House with Strong Bipartisan Support

News Release, Published: 
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
The Washington State House has passed HB 2789, a bill which puts reasonable regulations in place for government use of drones in Washington state. The measure passed overwhelmingly with strong bipartisan support by an 83-15 vote.
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GeekGirlCon: A Place for Women Who Have Found Their Own Voices

Published: 
Thursday, October 17, 2013
GeekGirlCon is here!  If you haven’t heard of GeekGirlCon before, you are missing out on a great event. 
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Balancing Police Oversight and Privacy: ACLU Offers Recommendations for Body Cams

Published: 
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Police departments across the state have adopted or are looking to buy on-officer recording systems, or “body cameras,” to provide oversight for law enforcement. These cameras can be very beneficial for accountability to prevent or identify police misconduct. But, they also pose risks to privacy for those captured in the recordings.
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Surveillance: Spokane Acts to Protect Privacy and Provide Transparency

Published: 
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
The Spokane City Council has passed an ordinance that will require Council approval to acquire and use some new surveillance equipment, such as drones and camera networks. We hope that more communities throughout Washington will consider passing similar oversight mechanisms with even stronger provisions and protections.
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ACLU Urges Spokane City Council to Strengthen Surveillance Proposal

News Release, Published: 
Monday, July 29, 2013
The ACLU of Washington is urging that the Spokane City Council strengthen a proposal for City acquisition of surveillance equipment.
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"You Are Being Tracked": ACLU Report Finds the Government Knows Where You Are Driving

Published: 
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
A national ACLU report on license plate tracking by law enforcement confirms that the problems we identified locally are reflected in communities throughout the U.S. Our study found that few police departments in Washington place any substantial restrictions on how the location information may be used.
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